Dragonfly Lifer #9: Blue-eyed Darner

I'll readily admit that my favorite dragonflies are the big bruisers, more specifically the darners. These monster-dragonflies terrorize all smaller insects, other dragonflies included. Until Friday, I had only positively identified the Common Green Darner, which is, as its name implies, very common.

I took a quick walk up to the neighborhood lake midday on Friday to see if any dragonflies were out and about. I quickly spotted an unfamiliar darner cruising around low over the water's surface. It landed a few times before disappearing, allowing me to snap a couple poor photos. When I arrived home I identified it as a Blue-eyed Darner (Aeshna multicolor.) I was glad to find another species of darner! It is a stunning dragonfly, and my crummy photo cannot do it justice.

The lake was fairly humming with dragonfly on Friday. Nearly invisible forktails weakly fluttered within centimeters of the water, a few Flame Skimmers cruised around, a couple female Green Darners laid eggs in floating vegetation, and several Blue Dashers hawked insects from perches. I was able to improve on my Blue Dasher photos.



Keep an eye open for my report of the trip my dad and I took to the San Jacinto Mountains this past weekend. I'll try to have photos up by next weekend, when I will be leaving with my family for Yosemite.

Dragonfly Lifer #6: Blue Dasher

My dragonfly life list has been stuck at five for quite awhile. I just haven't gotten many chances to get out recently because of the insane amount of time I've been spending studying for my AP classes. Fortunately, I'll be done with those next week and my schedule will free up a lot.

I was out on a quick afternoon walk yesterday when I noticed a medium-sized blue dragonfly buzzing around the neighborhood lake. This one wasn't difficult to identify as a Blue Dasher; the only similar species is Western Pondhawk, but it can be eliminated by the white patch on the face. It is the sixth species on my official dragonfly life list.